Arriving early for a flight

[waccampbell]

So last time I flew back from work I was able to score a early flight back to Perth (KTA-PER).

Work always drops me off early at the airport so this time I thought I'd try the same thing, only to be knocked back. The lady said that all the flights were full, therefore obviously couldn't get on a flight.

It seemed pretty quiet, so whilst waiting in QC I got talking to one of the ladies about how 'busy' it was tonight, she said that it was rather quiet, so I explained that I tried to get on a early flight but was knocked back because they were all full. Her response was that there were no extra meals for the flight and therefore it is Qantas policy that no more extra people get added on.

I don't really care because I can just cruise, but is this the truth? Can anybody shed any light on this subject?

Still sitting in QC now lol (I'd call is QP but there's no alcohol at this one, probably a good idea)

 

[samh004]

Moving a pax to an earlier flight isn't a membership benefit, so sometimes you will be able to get moved, and other times you wont. It may also come down to what status you have.

Last time I asked to be moved I managed to snag the last seat on a very full flight SYD-BNE. I was told that if I took the seat catering wasn't assured, and it definitely wasn't on the plane in the end, but it didn't worry me as I made my train.

 

[Warks]

I thought it related to fare class. Years ago I used to travel on Y fares and it was easy to jump an earlier flight (work was paying) - often as not if I didn't have luggage and I was making a connection in BNE and there was an earlier flight boarding I could simply show the BP at the nearest desk and get on if there was space.

Of course now I pay for all my flights I'm on Red e-deals so not a chance in hell.

 

[samh004]

I've been moved on a red-e-deal a couple of times...

 

[LiamR]

Theres a few things that could effect why you can't get on the flight. But firstly,

That could be a policy specific to KTA, as its not a major hub for QF, I doubt they have catering faculities there, meaning they bring 2 sets of meals on the flight, so any extra pax after the aircraft heading for KTA won't get a meal, since the aircraft has left.

Secondly, how far away from departure was the flight you wanted to switch to? Anything less than 15mins and they usually can't get you on.

Thirdly, were you on a fully flex ticket, or an red e deal style ticket?

Finally, it could just be down to the staff behind the desk don't know how to do it, aren't allowed, or just don't want to.

But I know how you feel, I'm the worst offender for this, when I do day trips to SYD for work. I book the last flight home, not knowing when I'll finish fixing things, and then head to the airport and ask for the next flight home.

 

[kirk7]

Two factors that impact this-

1. Your ticket class- red e-deals are usually a no-go in getting onto an earlier flight (see 2 point); as the dragons in the service counter claim that it will get flagged, lose their jobs, blah blah...you get the picture. Unless their supervisor has given permission- i.e bad weather, etc

2. Since I have become WP, they have moved me whilst on red e-deals and even on points redemption. No issues (touch wood) so far.


Just from my experience. If only they will bend the rules and let me do a ODU on a red e-deal fare...dreaming i know

 

[munitalP]

...
Still sitting in QC now lol (I'd call is QP but there's no alcohol at this one, probably a good idea)

This is news worthy!

What happened between the last time I was there and now - no booze in the fridge after a hard day at the mine?

OMG! ##### even!

I'm sorry, but you didn't get an earlier flight, now lets move on and find out why there is no beer at KTA regional lounge!

 

[TonyHancock]

Still sitting in QC now lol (I'd call is QP but there's no alcohol at this one, probably a good idea)

:shock:
:shock:
:shock:
I'm beginning to visibly shake!

This is a crisis point!

 

[harvyk]

I doubt that was the problem, they could have moved you and simply slapped catering not assured on your boarding pass... (I switched to an earlier SYD-MEL last week where I had CNA stamped on my boarding pass)...

I expect that they felt they would get little advantage in moving you to an earlier flight, and your fare bucket \ status didn't give them any incentive... (Had you been a WP or had paid for a fully flexible I expect you'd have been moved to the earlier flight)

Had your original flight been relatively full, couple with a high likelyhood of them being able to sell your original seat \ move a premium pax into it, then you'd have more than likely been moved onto the earlier flight.

 

[jpk]

Had you been a WP or had paid for a fully flexible I expect you'd have been moved to the earlier flight

Generally they will move a WP on a red-e-deal if they feel your request is genuine and you are not taking the piss. I had a bad experience in the SYD J lounge the other day though, where I was lectured by the dragon for even daring to ask (and my request was reasonable I thought - arrived early on the DRW redeye, the next MEL flight is not bookable on the website due to min connection time, normally they will let me on the next MEL flight rather than wait for the booked one). They certainly can move you if they want to, if they are in a bad mood then you don't have much chance.

WRT no alcohol - Some of the QF flights from mining towns do not stock alcohol due to past problems with over-consumption, and subsequent agreement between QF and the mining company. The KTA QP may be subject to that.

 

[waccampbell]

Yeah, KTA is subject to no alcohol in QP because of that reason. You can buy on the plane no problems though, that being said they only serve light and mid strength beer in the airport bar as well, since about November last year.

Yeah I'm only a lowly silver member so thats probably why they didn't transfer me.

Also got a lecture from the dragon lady in Perth QP for trying to sneak an extra friend in lol apparently QP is a "classy establishment and that people like us rorting the system wrecks it for everybody blah blah blah" felt like school kids haha no problem though. It was fair enough, didn't need the lecture though, jease.

 

[Stephen65]

But I know how you feel, I'm the worst offender for this, when I do day trips to SYD for work. I book the last flight home, not knowing when I'll finish fixing things, and then head to the airport and ask for the next flight home.

I do the same thing when daytripping from MEL to SYD but again I am travelling on fully flexible fares for work. I've always been able to jump an earlier SYD-MEL flight.

 

[munitalP]

I was sitting next to a bloke on Thursday PER/MEL who had just returned from KTA and assured me there was beer and wine in the KTA fridge... Maybe it was just all sold out the last time the OP was there?

 

[JohnK]

2. Since I have become WP, they have moved me whilst on red e-deals and even on points redemption. No issues (touch wood) so far.

I have tried out of BNE and SYD many times and unless they are flow forwarding passengers already the request is denied 97% of the time.

Just from my experience. If only they will bend the rules and let me do a ODU on a red e-deal fare...dreaming i know

You will wake up soon. From the 7th July 2011 you will be able to do an ODU on a red e-deal fare....

 

[waccampbell]

I was sitting next to a bloke on Thursday PER/MEL who had just returned from KTA and assured me there was beer and wine in the KTA fridge... Maybe it was just all sold out the last time the OP was there?

I'll check this next time I'm through, which isn't for a while but.

 

[macrop]

I was sitting next to a bloke on Thursday PER/MEL who had just returned from KTA and assured me there was beer and wine in the KTA fridge... Maybe it was just all sold out the last time the OP was there?

Weird, there was no alcohol in the little Qanats lounge at KTA last night (Friday). And this has been the case for the last few months as the new handling company at the airport is still transferring the liquor license. Or that is what Qantas has told me. There has been some back-lash so what has changed in the last week is that they are now handing out two $10 drink vouchers to PG/WP/QP/Business flyers and they can be used in the regular bar at the terminal which is what I did. I now normally raid the fridge and shelves of snacks in the mini QP and go out to the regular bar for a beer.


As to the OP, I get early flights all the time from KTA to Perth as I have fully flexible tickets. There is always meals available, in my experiance, for early (return) flights on the planes as there is no catering at KTA so I believe they just fill their galley to suit a full return plane. The afternoon flights during the week are pretty much chockas these days any way. Myself and many of my work collegues are always scamming early rides to the airport to try and jag a quick return home. It's been a few months since getting a rejection, though these early flights will normally mean a middle seat or an exit row sometimes.


KTA early flight cutoff is around 25 minutes before the flight I've found. Go the the electronic kiosk directly and log in to either check-in or reprint your boarding pass. A window will pop up asking you if you wish to take an earlier flight. This may only work with a Y class ticket. This is how I do it and it's better than standing in line to ask and much quicker. Without a fully flexible (y) ticket you may have to go to the counter.

 

[Grooba]

I have tried out of BNE and SYD many times and unless they are flow forwarding passengers already the request is denied 97% of the time.

My experience as WP in this scenario is generally quite good and most times (when asked nicely) the dragons will accommodate me on an earlier flight where possible.

If I had to guess I'd say 60% of the time I'd be moved onto an earlier flight, subject to availability of course.

 

[Taezar]

I have asked 2 times this year to fly home earlier - currently sitting at 100% catching an earlier flight.
Maybe I just look so tired and emotional they say "yes."

 

[Simo]

Last night went to j lounge in Sydney and I was about 2 and a half hours early and the guy at check in said do I want a earlier flight and I jumped at it...I generally can get one if I have no luggage to check in.I am at about 90% for earlier flights.

 

[markis10]

The only time I have seen QF happily let people change flights is at a port where delays/weather or special events are possibly going to create issues late in the day. With DJ as a Gold FF, I have 100% success with changing flights everytime I ask, which I did 30 minutes ago for the 6th time as I realised my original flight would land just as the last airtrain was leaving the station! Stupid airtrain, nice Virgin .